Electric furnace



C. H. PRIESTLEY.

ELECTRIC FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.24. x919.

1,380,248; Patented May 31, 1921.

WITNESSES I3 INVENTOH JM G/M/FMS H Pill $72 5) By W A TTOR/VEYS UNITESTATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. PBIESTLEY, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC FURNACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31, 1921.

Application filed April 24, 1919. Serial No. 292,329.

State of New Jersey, have invented a new.

and Improved Electric Furnace, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description.

This invention relates to electric furnaces. More particularly theinvention relates to an electric furnace in which there may be generatedextremely high temperatures or supertemperatures, for the purpose ofmelting materials.

An object of the invention is to provide an electrical furnace in whichmay be roduced extremely high temperatures, and W i ch furnace will beable to withstand increasmg gas or air pressure incident to thegenerating of the temperature.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an electrical furnacein which materials may be changed from solid state to liquid state, andat the same tlme employ pressure producing elements for preventingvaporization of the materials to be melted. A feature of the inventionresides in the accessibility of all furnace parts, making 1t possible toquickly assemble and disassemble the electrical furnace.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has relation to acertain combination and arrangement of parts, an example of which isdescribed in the following specification, pointed out in the appendedclaims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1shows the electrical furnace is longitudinal cross sectional view.

Fig. 2 shows a cross section taken upon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a cross sectional view taken upon the line 3'3 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5 show views of a closure cap employed on the furnace.

Referring more in particular to the drawings, wherein the same parts ofthe furnace throughout the several views are designated by the samereference characters, the numeral 1 points out a retaining frame or bandmember comprising the two parallel sides joined integrally at the endthereof as designated by 2, and provided with a screwthreaded boss 3 atthe forward end of said band. The stud of the frame is bored and tappedfor a heavy clamp screw 4.

A furnace cylinder 6 with accessory parts is confined within theretaining frame. he furnace cylinder is fitted on the inte-v r1or borewith a heavy insulating tube 7 of the same length as the furnacecylinder, and the insulating tube may be made of zirconium oxid.

A circuit conductor plug comprising sections of current conductingelectrodes 9 and 10, is inserted in each end of the insulating tube. Aslater seen the temperature producmg current will be led through theseelectrodes. An insulator cap 1-2 is placed over each end of the furnacecylinder and placed in contiguous relation with the insulating tube.

A closure cap comprising a solid head 13 grooved out as indicated by14:, is placed over each end of the furnace cylinder and in contact withthe insulator caps such that said caps will be backed up and supportedby the closure heads. The cap is grooved across the inner face thereofas illustrated which adapts it to receive a circuit electrode 15. Thecircuit electrodes 15 are pushed in through the opening left between theelectrode plugs and insulator caps. The circuit electrode will be shapedto accurately fit the form or groove of the insulator cap. The electr0de will be fitted with suitable conducting wires 16 connected with ahead 17 which is clamped to the circuit electrode, or which may be anintegral part thereof.

The inner space bounded by the heavy insulated walls of the insulatingtube forms a furnace chamber in which the high temperature and highpressure will be generated,

and into this chamber will be placed the material to be melted'otsubjected to the electro-chemical process which comprises anothersubject of patentable application, disclosed in my application forpatent filed April 29th 1919, Serial No. 293533. Any material to bemelted and crystallized will be introduced into the furnace chamber andsupported between the electrode plugs. In this instance there is shownwhat may be called a carbon rod A. which it is proposed to melt andelectro-chemically produce crystals such as diamonds or other materials.This carbon rod A. will preferably be supported in carbon plugs B, andthe electrode plugs 9 and 10 pushed inwardly against the carbon plugs toform adequate contacts.

The furnace. assembly with its contacts will be placed in the retainingframe and the clamp screw compressively engaged with the closure head.This will bring the closure head into close fitting engagement with thefurnace parts and provide liquid and gas tight tits between all parts.

The retaining frame, furnace cylinder and closure head will be built ofmaterial most suitable for this purpose. Steel or other strong materialswill be selected for the construction of this furnace. and all parts beso constructed as to be able to withstand the superintinite pressurewhich will be developed within the furnace chamber when theelectro-chemical process is undertaken.

The circuit wires: It) will be placed in an electrical circuit capableof furnishing extremely large quantities of electrical energy. Thecurrent will act upon the carbon rod A or other material. and throughthe resistance of the rod to be melted. will raise said rod to extremelyhigh temperature.

It may be desirable to introduce certain other materials within thefurnace chamber. ()ne purpose will be to insert a material for producingan expanding gas pressure so as to prevent 'volatilization of the carbonrod when said rod is heated to the supertemperatures employed within thefurnace. It may also be desirable to employ a solid body material to bepacked within and around the rod in order that said rod may be supportedand retained in a liquid state and prevented from working a moleculardisassociation of structure.

This form of electric furnace can be used for producing artificialcrystals from any material determined suitable by experimentation.(arbon rod or granulated carbon material is one form of substance whichmay be crystallized within the furnace for producing hard crystals ofthe gem variety such as diamonds, and the like.

In my application for Letters-Patent filed April 29, A. D. 1919, andSerial Number 293,533, I have disclosed a patentable procscrew screw-threaded within the retaining frame, a furnace cylinder, an insulatingtube inserted within the furnace cylinder to line said cylinder, agrooved closure head, insulator caps placed upon each end of the furnacecylinder and against the insulator cap with the cap confined within thegroove of the closure head, and circuit electrodes inserted within thegroove of the insulator cap and passed across the bore of the furnacecylinder.

2. An electric furnace, comprising in combination; a furnace cylinder,an insulating tube contained within the cylinder, an electrode pluginserted within each end of theinsulator tube, a material to becrystallized inserted within the tube between the electrode plugs,grooved closure heads applied to the furnace cylinder ends. and acircuit electrode inserted between the electrode plug and closure headfor the purpose of conducting current to the material to becrystallized.

3. An electric furnace comprising: a retaining frame, a furnacecylinder, closure heads applied to the furnace cylinder and providedwith slotted openings formed therethrough, and circuit electrodescarried within the slotted openings to transmit current to the interiorof the furnace.

CHARLES H. PRIESTLEY.

